Device, system and method of multi-channel processing

Abstract

Briefly, some embodiments of the invention may include devices, systems and methods of multi-channel processing. For example, a set-top box in accordance with an embodiment of the invention may include a front-end to receive a downstream signal carrying audio/video data representing a first plurality of channels, including one or more scrambled channels; a de-multiplexer to de-multiplex said downstream signal into a second plurality of channels including at least one of said one or more scrambled channels; a descrambler to descramble said one or more scrambled channels into one or more, respective, descrambled channels; a bouquet producer to receive said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels and produce a bouquet including said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels; a multiplexer to receive said bouquet and produce an output signal carrying audio/video data representing said second plurality of channels, including said one or more de-scrambled channels; and an output unit to provide said output signal to one or more audio/video devices.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A set-top box comprising: 
 a front-end to receive a downstream signal carrying audio/video data representing a first plurality of channels, including one or more scrambled channels;    a de-multiplexer to de-multiplex said downstream signal into a second plurality of channels including at least one of said one or more scrambled channels;    a descrambler to descramble said one or more scrambled channels into one or more, respective, descrambled channels;    a bouquet producer to receive said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels and produce a bouquet including said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels;    a multiplexer to receive said bouquet and produce an output signal carrying audio/video data representing said second plurality of channels, including said one or more descrambled channels; and    an output unit to provide said output signal to one or more audio/video devices.    
     
     
         2 . The set-top box of  claim 1 , comprising a transmitter to transmit said output signal.  
     
     
         3 . The set-top box of  claim 1 , comprising an output port able to transfer said output signal.  
     
     
         4 . The set-top box of  claim 1 , wherein said descrambler comprises one or more SmartCards.  
     
     
         5 . The set-top box of  claim 1 , comprising a table modifier to create a Conditional Access Program Map Table.  
     
     
         6 . The set-top box of  claim 1 , comprising a table modifier to update a Conditional Access Program Map Table based on one or more Packet Identifier Descriptors.  
     
     
         7 . The set-top box of  claim 1 , wherein said set-top box is able to analyze said downstream signal, to de-scramble a Control Word carried by said downstream signal, and to embed said Control Word in said output signal.  
     
     
         8 . The set-top box of  claim 7 , wherein said set-top box is able to embed said Control Word in an Entitled Control Module in said output signal.  
     
     
         9 . The set-top box of  claim 7 , wherein said set-top box is able to embed said Control Word in an Entitled Manager Module in said output signal.  
     
     
         10 . The set-top box of  claim 1 , wherein said set-top box is able to analyze data traffic in a network connected to said set-top box.  
     
     
         11 . The set-top box of  claim 10 , wherein said set-top box is able to modify a data item carried by said output signal based on an analysis of said data traffic.  
     
     
         12 . The set-top box of  claim 1 , comprising an encryptor to encrypt a data item, carried by said bouquet including said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels, into an encrypted data item, and to include said encrypted data item in said output signal.  
     
     
         13 . The set-top box of  claim 1 , wherein said set-top box is able to select said second plurality of channels of channels from said first plurality of channels based on a signal indicating a user selection of at least one of said second plurality of channels.  
     
     
         14 . A system comprising: 
 a set-top box comprising: 
 a front-end to receive a downstream signal carrying audio/video data representing a first plurality of channels, including one or more scrambled channels;  
 a de-multiplexer to de-multiplex said downstream signal into a second plurality of channels including at least one of said one or more scrambled channels;  
 a descrambler to descramble said one or more scrambled channels into one or more, respective, descrambled channels;  
 a bouquet producer to receive said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels and produce a bouquet including said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels;  
 a multiplexer to receive said bouquet and produce an output signal carrying audio/video data representing said second plurality of channels, including said one or more descrambled channels; and  
 an output unit to provide said output signal to one or more audio/video devices, and  
   an audio/video device to receive said output signal from said set-top box.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said set-top box comprises a transmitter to transmit said output signal to said audio/video device.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said set-top box comprises an output port to transfer said output signal to said audio/video device.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said audio/video device comprises a television.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said audio/video device comprises a personal computer.  
     
     
         19 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a downstream signal carrying audio/video data representing a first plurality of channels, including one or more scrambled channels;    de-multiplexing said downstream signal into a second plurality of channels including at least one of said one or more scrambled channels;    descrambling said one or more scrambled channels into one or more, respective, descrambled channels;    producing a bouquet including said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels;    receiving said bouquet and producing an output signal carrying audio/video data representing said second plurality of channels, including said one or more descrambled channels; and    providing said output signal to one or more audio/video devices.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said providing comprises transmitting said output signal through a wireless communication link.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said providing comprises transferring said output signal through a wired link.  
     
     
         22 . An integrated receiver decoder comprising: 
 a front-end to receive a downstream signal carrying audio/video data representing a first plurality of channels, including one or more scrambled channels;    a de-multiplexer to de-multiplex said downstream signal into a second plurality of channels including at least one of said one or more scrambled channels;    a descrambler to descranble said one or more scrambled channels into one or more, respective, descrambled channels;    a bouquet producer to receive said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels and produce a bouquet including said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels;    a multiplexer to receive said bouquet and produce an output signal carrying audio/video data representing said second plurality of channels, including said one or more descrambled channels; and    an output unit to provide said output signal to one or more audio/video devices.    
     
     
         23 . The integrated receiver decoder of  claim 22 , wherein said integrated receiver decoder is able to analyze said downstream signal, to de-scramble a Control Word carried by said downstream signal, and to embed said Control Word in said output signal.  
     
     
         24 . The integrated receiver decoder of  claim 23 , wherein said integrated receiver decoder is able to embed said Control Word in an Entitled Control Module in said output signal.  
     
     
         25 . The integrated receiver decoder of  claim 23 , wherein said integrated receiver decoder is able to embed said Control Word in an Entitled Manager Module in said output signal.  
     
     
         26 . The integrated receiver decoder of  claim 22 , wherein said integrated receiver decoder is able to analyze data traffic in a network connected to said integrated receiver decoder.  
     
     
         27 . The integrated receiver decoder of  claim 26 , wherein said integrated receiver decoder is able to modify a data item carried by said output signal based on an analysis of said data traffic.  
     
     
         28 . The integrated receiver decoder of  claim 22 , comprising an encryptor to encrypt a data item, carried by said bouquet including said second plurality of channels and said one or more descrambled channels, into an encrypted data item, and to include said encrypted data item in said output signal.